In the videos, was that an E46 M3 at the front? It sure left you guys in a hurry.

 

Jason, I had you a couple of times through Wagonwheel (the U turn at the bottom after Rattlesnake). You threw the car down in too deep. I stuck my nose in a couple of times but you "closed the door" on the exit. You went to the apex when I was partially next to you. I backed off a little. I wouldn't say it was bad racing. It was smart on your part. I'm not sure what the BMW CR rules mean by racing room, but from my understanding of the PCA CR rules, you had the corner as you got there first, thus you had the right to the apex. So, from my standpoint, you did nothing wrong. BTW, closing the door is not a bad thing. I need to learn to do it.

George

 

HEHE yea ok thats what I thought. I had to take a wide line there so that I could accelerate early up the hill and not understeer. Like you said, to me I knew I had the line so I went on. Thanks for not bumping me.. hehe

 

George:

That was better than watching a race on ESPN. I felt like I was riding in the car with you, except for the fact I am listening to the stereo, on the couch, with the air conditioner on, drinking a Michelob, not sweating and listening to the dog bark at a boat that just passed the house. You guys are having way too much fun..... Man I have to get off the couch!

 

Is the Michelob in a metal bottle?

George

 

It feels like lead. I am waiting on my car to return from a bunch of modifications (6 more weeks). When I was a kid my parents took me to a SCCA race and there was this little car (A true mini from the 1960's era) we watched beat the crap out of 67 corvettes, 69 camaros and 70 AAR cudas. I will never forget my Father explaining the effects of power to weight ratios.

 

I have no clue what the rules for BMW are but in SCCA you were overtaking him and a few times backed way out to avoid incident. I think it is that if your fender is at or by the person being taken's door, you have the line not the other guy. To me you got "stuffed" numerous times. And like you said, its not "bad" persay, but man.....I would have found a way by and kept him there (if you were really racing and in the same class). Which bring up another point, but I digress.

 

My interpretation, for what's it worth (not much), is that by PCA rules Jason owned the corner since he was the lead car @ turn-in. Therefore, he had the right to take his line and come across to apex. You would, as you did, have to adjust your speed/line to allow that. In BMW rules, he has to allow racing room (co-existence in the corner) so you should have been able to maintain your speed/line through Wagon Wheel without slowing to let him come across to apex. He would have had to remain outside at apex at least one car width to allow you to "co-exist" next to him. My 2 cts. I've only run one BMWCCA weekend (3 races) & that's how it was explained to me. Personally, it looks like Jason did a damn good job of holding you off & drove his race without paying to much attention to you, in his mirrors, hounding him. Good job & looks like you guys had a great time

 

George,

With BMWCCA the onus is 100% on the passing car to make a safe pass. Likewise, the car ahead is 100% required to leave racing room when an overtaking car has the corner. If Jason had chosen to displace the apex coming up the hill to allow you room, you probably would have carried more speed into the down hill left (ricochet, right?) and passed him. That said, you did not have clear position on him in wagon wheel and Jason, at least under BMWCCA's rules, had every right in the world to take the apex away from you. I've nearly had my front end taken off from better positions. Your decision to back off a little was exactly the right one given the sanctioning body you were racing with that day. In a spec miata, on the other hand, Jason would have been punted into the weeds at least twice there.

Maybe 1 in 4 bmwcca racers would have given you room at wagonwheel...the other 3 would have done exactly what Jason did. In fact, Jason is not the most agressive guy out there and plenty of guys would have dive bombed you into little bend in the laps previous to Jason's pass. I happen to be one of the people that would have done that. =)

Of course, I had this instructor in my 2nd DE ever...he turned me into a mad man...

-Dave
(driver of the m3 in those videos)

 

Jason,

Nicely driven race man! George is no slouch, especially at MSR where he's got more laps than any 1 man should be allowed. I know a bunch of BMW folks in the paddock were cheering you on.

-Dave

 

Nicely driven, Dave.

 

I started to get lonely at lap 5...lap 6 I looked over my shoulder at rattlesnake (the S'es)...lap 7 I kinda waited on you guys. =)

 

The car is owned by Matt Groner and prepared by his shop, Matthews Auto (www.matthews-auto.com for lots of pictures of the build out). The car is still on what is basically a street suspension - double adjustable koni's valved for street/track compromise - and has more spring than rebound control so it pogo's a bit when you approach the limit. It was also overheating all weekend long. I pushed it hard in the first corner, got a gap on George and Jason, and then just drove a "DE" line a gear higher than normal and well under the redline.

Still, it's a very fast car. If pushed, the car could have gone another second per lap faster for the entire race, maybe more with a better driver.

 

13:40 on George's video

 

Damn, damn, damn. That instructor should have his *** kicked for teaching you so much!!!!!

George